Who's coming to the wedding?

One easy idea we have found over the years remains as valuable today as it did almost 9 years ago when we first opened.  Alphabetize your guest list and then number the list. Next, lightly and discreetly pencil the number in a corner on the back of the reply card.  Then as your reply cards come back to you, when someone inevitably forgets to include their name(s) on the card, you are saved the headache of trying to figure out who in the world it came from.

The chance of someone noticing your numbering system is low.  But, if someone with the last name of Wilson happens to notice a 150 or some other high number on the back of their card, they would not think twice.  However, if their last name were Allen and they saw a high number on the back of the card they might infer they were on a couples' "B" list or simply an "after thought".  By alphabetizing your guest list before assigning the sequential numbers, you should minimize the possibility of any hurt feelings.

Another approach that has been used successfully is to use a combination of the first letter of the last name and a sequential number.  This is especially useful for couples who have a guest list larger than their venue can accommodate, and who plan to send a second mailing based on the number of "regrets" they receive from their initial mailing. Now for this approach to work, the invitations need to be mailed out at least eight weeks in advance. This allows you time to start getting regrets, so your second wave can still be mailed four to six weeks before the wedding.

It doesn't matter who or how many you are inviting, our experience tells us that you're more likely than not, to have at least one reply card come back to you missing this vital information. By using this simple solution, you'll be able to check off one more thing from planning list without unnecessary last minute headaches and stress.